Summary
- King Richard's story goes beyond Venus and Serena, shedding light on his other children and family dynamics.
- Serena Williams' record as the greatest female tennis player is undeniable, with 23 Grand Slam wins.
- Despite not being in the spotlight, Richard Williams' other children have successful careers and support their superstar siblings.
King Richard may be known for his famous daughters, Venus and Serena Williams, but the tennis prodigies are far from the only children the legendary coach has, with some even appearing in his eponymous film. One of Will Smith's best films to-date, King Richard tells the poignant true story of Richard Williams' ceaseless desire to see his girls rightfully crowned as tennis stars, facing racism, financial troubles, and familial turmoil all the way. Earning Smith an Oscar for Best Actor in 2022 alongside heaps of critical praise, the film shed light on more than just Venus and Serena.
In real life, Richard Williams has fathered nine different children with four different mothers, including Venus and Serena's mom, Oracene "Brady" Price, portrayed in the film by Aunjanue Ellis. Beyond that, Williams was a father figure to Price's children from a former partner, as well, who feature heavily in King Richard's cast. Not all of Williams' children make appearances in the film, even if it does serve as a faithful re-telling of the unbelievable events that shot Venus and Serena into tennis stardom.
8 Richard Williams' Children From His First Marriage
Make no appearances in the film
Brandy Price wasn't Richard Williams' first wife, though the scope of the film only takes place within the 22 years of their marriage. Once upon a time, Richard Williams was married to one Betty Johnson, meeting her in the 60s shortly after moving to California from Michigan. Little is known about Betty, but Richard had five children with her years before meeting Brady Price -- Sabrina, Richard III, Ronner, Reluss, and Reneeka. Williams also helped Betty Johnson raise another daughter from a previous relationship, Katrina.
After eight years of marriage, Richard and Betty separated in 1973. Neither Betty nor any of her children with Richard make an appearance in King Richard, though Richard III is mentioned by Oracene. Little is known about Richard Williams' children from his original marriage, but Sabrina Williams has been the most outspoken. Eight years old at the time of Richard and Betty's separation, Sabrina has made no secret of her disapproval of her father's actions, blaming him for abandoning the family. Sabrina is currently around 58 years old, working as a hospice chaplain (via Legit).
7 Serena Williams
One of the most prominent tennis players of all-time
One of the more controversial truths depicted in King Richard was Williams' careful brushes with favoritism, always prodding his daughters to fiercely compete with one another. While the two sisters' legacies are inarguable, becoming two of the most iconic tennis players of all time, let alone among women tennis players only, it's hard to argue against Serena's record as the greatest female player of all time. Her 23 Grand Slam wins are the most of any tennis player ever, and her staggering 73 singles titles outnumbers Venus' impressive 49.
King Richard depicted the earliest stages of Serena and Venus' rivalry, with Serena being portrayed by actress, singer, and dancer Demi Singleton. While Richard chooses Venus to be the one to receive top-class coaching from Paul Cohen, it's ultimately Serena who eclipses her in real life, perhaps driven by her former underdog status. Beyond her legendary tennis career, Serena has also been known to dabble in voice acting, making more than one celebrity cameo appearance in Avatar: The Last Airbender, being a self-professed fan of the series.
6 Venus Williams
The star of King Richard's final act
Though Serena might have her sister beat when it comes to raw numbers, the achievements of Venus Williams' own tennis career are not to be understated. Still taking home a whopping 49 singles titles and 7 Grand Slam championships, Venus is easily in the hall of fame of the greatest tennis players of all time, a testament to Richard Williams' coaching and dedication to both his daughters. In 2002, just following the French Open, Venus even outranked Serena as the number one rated female player, though Serena was close behind at the number two spot.
In King Richard, Venus is chosen to be the one receiving direct coaching from Paul Cohen, and is thus signed up to play in the Bank of the West Classic. Played by Saniyya Sidney, Venus Williams nearly triumphs against tournament favorite, the Spanish player Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, only losing due to a controversial ruling in which Vicario was allowed an extended bathroom break. Since the events of King Richard, and the eldest Williams sister has even proven herself to be a capable fashionista, earning her degree in fashion design before founding her athletic brand of women's apparel, Eleven (via Legit).
5 Yetunde Price
Richard Williams' eldest stepdaughter with Brandy
While Richard Williams pays special attention to his biological daughters in King Richard, he was also something of a father figure to the Price children, Venus and Serena's stepsisters. Of all five girls, Yetunde was the oldest, being particularly close to Serena, who had her diapers changed by Yetunde as a baby (via Today). In King Richard, Yetunde, known by her nickname, Tunde, is played by Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew. Yetunde grew up to become a professional nurse and mother of three children.
Long after the events of King Richard, Yetunde tragically passed away in 2003 at the age of 31. Struck by a stray bullet likely intended for someone else in the car she was in, Yetunde Price died in Compton following a shooting. Though Yetunde didn't have a large role in King Richard, she left behind an incredible impact on her loved ones, devastated by the loss. Serena tearfully dedicated her 2007 win at the Australian Open to her late stepsister. Venus and Serena opened the Yetunde Price Resource Center in her name, a non-profit dedicated to healing victims of violence.
4 Isha Price
Another stepsister with nothing but love for her champion siblings
Another of Brandy Price's daughters from her previous marriage to Yusef A.K. Rasheed, Isha Price has always been supportive of her tennis star stepsisters. As depicted in the movie, Isha would commonly stay out late with the older Serena and Venus and practice, picking up balls for them in an effort to be helpful and supportive. A cheery, upbeat personality in the Williams sisters' lives, Isha was played in the film by child actress Danielle Lawson, also recognizable among the cast of Young Sheldon.
After growing up, Isha may not have been a tennis star, but does incredibly well for herself as an attorney (via Today). Isha Price also served as an executive producer on King Richard, being granted the rare distinction of being both a character in the film and a name in the credits. In the promotional materials and press tours for the film, Isha had nothing but good things to say about her superstar sisters, excited to be part of bringing their legacy to the big screen.
3 Lyndrea Price
The baby of the Price-Williams household
Lyndrea Price is the youngest of all the Williams and Price sisters, though her exact age isn't known. In King Richard, Lyndrea does appear among Richard Williams' household, though she never gets much of a spotlight. In the film, Lyndrea is played by Layla Crawford, an actress and assistant director also known for her work in NCIS: Los Angeles.
Interestingly enough, Lyndrea Price grew up to work in Hollywood, joining her sister Isha in King Richard's credits. Lyndrea works as a costumer, being accredited for wardrobe work in noteworthy shows and movies like Abbot Elementary, Babylon, Euphoria, and, of course, King Richard itself. In addition, Lyndrea maintains a high-profile social media presence, supplementing her work as an influencer.
2 Dylan Starr Williams
The youngest of Richard Williams' children
After over two decades of marriage, Richard Williams eventually divorced from Oracene Price in 2002. In 2010, Williams got married for the third time to Lakeisha Juanita Graham, a grocery store owner. This relationship also wouldn't last, with the two divorcing only 7 years later in 2017, but not before having a son together, Dylan Starr Williams.
By far the youngest of all of Richard Williams' children, Dylan Starr Williams was only around eight years old or so by the time King Richard was released. Obviously, the film made no mention of Dylan, being set long before his birth, circa 2013. Despite growing up at the height of his family's fame, Richard and Lakeisha have managed to keep Dylan's childhood remarkably private, though the youngest Williams son had been seen accompanying his father to Venus and Serena's high-profile tennis matches (via Legit) .
1 Chavoita LeSane
Richard Williams' son from an undisclosed relationship
Richard Williams' son from an unknown relationship in the 70s either shortly after or during his marriage to Venus and Serena's mother, Chavoita LeSane. Both LeShane's mother and actual date of birth remain unknown, but the fourth Williams son isn't overly concerned with staying out of the public eye himself. CEO of Florida-based music production company ChaVam, Chavoita LeSane has two sons himself, officially making Richard Williams a paternal grandfather as well as a maternal one.
Of course, Chavoita LeSane makes no appearances in his father's biopic, and likely wouldn't even get a representation in any future King Richard sequels. That being said, he has been an outspoken supporter of his father's health. Chavoita was known to take care of Richard after the famed tennis father suffered from three separate strokes, voicing his concerns publicly in January of 2023 (via Legit) after Williams' most recent health scare. Chavoita LeSane is living proof that Richard Williams led a life far beyond the bounds of the story depicted in King Richard.